If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy updates (Falcon Heavier?)

The test stand at their McGregor Texas facility is nearing completion, and the 3 cores (center core and 2 liquid fueled boosters, all based on Falcon 9R) are under construction at Hawthorne, California. The pad mods at KSC LC-39A are progressing rapidly.

Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket on Earth, capable of sending 53,000 kg to low Earth orbit, 21,200 kg to geostationary orbit, or 13,200 kg to Mars.

53,000 kg is more than the weight of a fully loaded Boeing 737-200.

Falcon Heavy concept of operations (CONOPS) video below, showing how the cores will return and land at KSC-13 after launch.

The plan for the booster cores to return to LC-13 immediately after separation, about 4-5 minutes after launch. The center core is to return a few minutes later when launching lower mass payloads. For heavier payloads it'll continue downrange, land on an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS), partially refuel, then relaunch and fly back to LC-13.

There is currently one ASDS stationed at Jacksonville, Florida. Another is under construction for their Vandenberg AFB launch site in California, and a third is likely for their Mars Crossing spaceport near Brownsville, Texas.

The new launch platform under construction at KSC LC-39. Looks like they're going to build a ramp to it over the old Saturn V/Shuttle gravelway.

The new horizontal integration facility (HIF) will be built just outside that pad perimeter gate. Its foundation is curing and should be occupied in a few weeks..

Did some screen caps from the video,

LC-13

Dr. Mordrid----------------------------An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

Last year's CRS-7 oopsie delayed both F9 Full Thrust and Falcon Heavy, and the LC-39A pad construction is just wrapping up due to funding delays caused by Congresscritters diverting Commercial Crew funds to SLS and Orion last year.

Falcon Heavy is now up for a November 2016 debut, and in 2018 it's scheduled to launch the Red Dragon Mars landing mission.

In addition to that, SpaceX is going to try landing all 3 cores of FH after the launch.

Now that LC-39A, the pad used to launch Apollo 11, is ready to go Falcon 9 flights resume soon. Then about Q2 2017.....the sound from 5.1 million pounds of thrust rumble across the Florida coast.

The 3 cores, a massively reinforced center core is on the shop floor. The boosters will be reused Falcon 9's. It's due to launch military and commercial missions first, then a Red Dragon mission to Mars in mid-2018. A modded Cargo Dragon 2, which has about 12% more internal volume than Cargo Dragon 1.

"Falcon Heavy interstage being prepped at the rocket factory. When FH flies next year, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two."

Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 28th December 2016 at 14:16.

Dr. Mordrid----------------------------An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

The other two cores will be flight proven boosters, and they've already been tested; the F9 cores used for Dragon CRS-9 and Thaicom-8. Now need to upgrade the pad - needs 4 more stage hold-downs.

Once the pad mods are finished they can integrate the 3 cores into an FH, then comes initial rollout for pretty pictures etc. and some static fires to check vibration modes, plume interactions, acoustics etc. before flying.

And Falcon Heavy is a candidate to replace the Delta IV Heavy after it retires in 2023. Delta IV Medium ends in 2018. Delta is getting too expensive for the USAF at $400m plus for the Heavy and $250m for the Medium. FH will start at $90m.

With KoreaSat 5A launched the mysterious ZUMA mission for Northrop Grumman is next on the agenda for LC - 39A.

After ZUMA comes a 2-3 week shutdown of LC-39A, during which modifications to the Transporter-Erector will be made for Falcon Heavy. With that finished we have preliminary dates for the Falcon Heavy maiden flight campaign.

First the cores will be assembled on the Transporter-Erector and taking to the pad for fit checks. After that comes a wet dress rehearsal, during which they stand up the cores, top off the tanks, check for leaks and test the ground systems. Next comes these major milestones,

NET = no earlier than

Static Fire: NET December 15

Launch Date: NET December 29

No one knows what the payload is, SpaceX is being very secretive about that. There has been speculation about everything from a dead weight mass simulator to a sub-scale test version of the BFS Spaceship. We'll just have to see.

Dr. Mordrid----------------------------An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

They may have FH standing up at the pad before the end of November for fit and connection checks. Expect some very pretty pictures from SpaceX PAO.

There are two wet dress rehearsals (WDRs) scheduled, which is when they fill the tanks, test the rocket and ground support equipment then de-tank. At the end of the second wet dress rehearsal they say they will do a full 27 engine static fire rather than de-tank. IF the first WDR goes VERY well they may static fire then, saving several days. Will it move the launch date left? Unknown.

Merlin 1D engine startup is going to be interesting because of the possibility of thrust torque from multiple engines starting at once, which could twist the engine bay connectors. To prevent this, each core will start opposing pairs of engines with a short time delay between. The Shuttle SSME's did a similar staggered start for the same reason. This should be barely perceptible as the delays are going to be quite short.

There is also talk that the upper stage is going to be...unusual. it's been described as a Frankenstein stage, leading some to believe that some features of the BFS spaceship; most notably the thermal protection, guidance airfoils and other exterior control devices, may be tested in a recovery attempt of the FH upper stage. We do know that this upper stage was tested at McGregor and is at is now at LC-39A, along with the center core and the two Flight Proven booster cores.

A second landing pad at LZ-1 is nearing completion, so if all goes well we're going to see two 15 story tall rocket boosters landing side-by-side. THAT, my friends, is going to be a sight to see.

Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 2nd November 2017 at 12:32.

Dr. Mordrid----------------------------An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.